While CP-Ti and Ti-64 titanium alloys have been celebrated for their high strength, low weight, and exceptional corrosion resistance in medical implants, they also face challenges related to wear resistance and cytotoxic concerns due to vanadium content in Ti-64. These factors have spurred the development of new titanium alloy compositions tailored for biomedical applications.

Addressing the Challenges

To overcome the limitations posed by CP-Ti and Ti-64, researchers have introduced first-generation biomedical implant alloys such as Ti-6Al-7Nb and Ti-5Al-2.5Fe. These alloys maintain the desired properties of Ti-64 while eliminating vanadium to mitigate cytotoxicity concerns. Furthermore, the advancement in additive layer manufacturing (ALM) has enabled the creation of highly porous titanium structures that better match the mechanical properties of human bone, encouraging bone ingrowth and reducing stress shielding effects.

New Standards for Titanium Manufacturing

The evolution of titanium manufacturing technologies has necessitated the establishment of new standards and regulations. The ASTM and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have responded with standards such as ASTM F2989 for MIM and ALM titanium, setting chemical composition requirements to ensure the quality and safety of titanium implants.